REMEMBER the BMW 02, the classic two-door saloon of the 1960s and 1970s? It was a fabulous motor that paved the way for the 3-Series, the car that now dominates today's junior executive sector.

SUPER MODEL: The new BMW 2-Series handles superbly and the ride is very refined [PH]

Besides being the first production car to feature a turbocharged engine (no, it wasn't Saab) the 02 put the Bavarian company on the shopping lists of anyone who enjoyed their time behind the wheel.

That may be ancient history now but BMW claims its latest car the 2-Series Coupe "carries the spirit of the 02".

As if those weren't big enough shoes to fill the 2-Series effectively replaces BMW's previous small two-door coupe, based on the 1-Series. And remember the 135i flagship of that range had serious drivers queueing at showroom doors.

Can the 2-Series achieve similar heights? As far as its looks go you'd have to say yes. The overall styling of the coupe is far easier on the eye than the more notchback look of its old 1-Series counterpart,although that was popular enough for 150,000 of them to leave showrooms since its launch in 2007.

Not only that but the 2-Series range will also spawn a convertible and a people-carrier called the 2-Series Active Tourer which arrives at the end of the year.

BMW's answer to Ford's S-Max, the Tourer will be front-wheel drive (unlike the rear-wheel drive coupe and forthcoming drop-top) and will be available in five or seven-seater versions.

With BMW trying to push the 2-Series as a driver's car it makes the Active Tourer nomenclature an odd choice.

Returning to the present the coupe will be available initially with two turbocharged petrols and a turbo-diesel.

The entry-level 184bhp 2.0-litre petrol is capable of the 0 to 60mph sprint in 7.0 seconds and 47.1mpg while the more serious M235i petrol boasts a 326bhp twin-turbo propelling the car from 0 to 60mph in just 4.8 seconds.

The 2.0-litre turbo-diesel produces 184bhp and can take the BMW from 0 to 60mph in a very respectable 7.1 seconds while boasting 64.2mpg.

Other engines will join the range in due course. If those impressive on-paper figures aren't enough to convince you then the baby BMW's on-road experience certainly will. This is a far more refined and comfortable car than the 1-Series Coupe.

With road, wind and engine noise kept to a minimum it's an effortless car to drive whether in city traffic or cruising on the motorway.

As far as everyday driving is concerned your immediate impression is one of a far more mature, complete and better thought-through set of wheels.

The ride is good too with great composure even over broken roads though the sportier modes noticeably firm matters up.

Responsive when you're in the mood and refined when you're not it's a decent combination for a small two-door coupe

It's on the twistier roads where the 2-Series really shows what it can do. With those references to the superb 02 and the 135i fresh in your mind the 2-Series comes into its own when you start to press on and take advantage of its power and grip.

In the M235i flagship the steering could be slightly sharper but it is still precise while gear-changes through the steering-wheel paddles are immediate.

All in all it's very easy to become comfortable pushing the car to its limits.

On the safer environs of a race circuit that's even more obvious as the strong brakes and exacting nature of the car boost the driver's confidence. With familiarity the 2-Series can even be provoked into enjoyable and controllable tail slides, underlining the fact that this is a true enthusiast's car.

It's rapid too. That 4.8 second sprint from 0 to 60mph is beginning to tread on the toes of some really serious sports cars.

As well as sounding superb at high revs the engine is perfectly matched with the eight-speed automatic gearbox.

Any 135i Coupe owners who are concerned that BMW might have gone soft with the 1-Series replacement certainly have no need to worry.

Responsive when you're in the mood and refined when you're not it's a decent combination for a small two-door coupe.

Inside the build quality and layout are excellent although the suitably chunky steering wheel can at times feel a little too big for such a sporting car.

As you might expect the two rear seats are a little cosy for adults and anyone over medium height won't want to be back there for any length of time.

The deep boot is a decent size although the shape of the rear lights means the loading space is a little on the narrow side. Fair enough this might not be a car where practicality is likely to be high up any potential buyer's list of priorities but it's still considerably easier to live with on a daily basis than most full-blown two-seater sports cars.

Which in turn brings us back to the original 02 and the 1-Series Coupe, both of which were also serious driver's cars dressed in sensible bodywork.

OK SO most 2-Series Coupes leaving showrooms in the UK are likely to be diesel-powered but this is still an inherently capable, talented and extremely refined car.

We weren't initially convinced by BMW's continued fracturing of its range but if it's going to continue producing cars as good as this then it's a decision to be applauded.

The 2-Series is the spirit of the original 02 wrapped up in a car that's better in almost every way than the 1-Series Coupe ever was.